Work by Students, Alumni and Faculty

School Description

The Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in Los Angeles, California, is an independent, nonprofit school offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in Architecture. Founded in 1972, SCI-Arc is widely regarded as one of the most avant-garde US architecture schools, with a reputation for pushing the boundaries of academic study. SCI-Arc’s approximately 500 students and 80 faculty members—most of whom are practicing architects—work together to re-examine assumptions, create, explore and test the limits of architecture. Dedicated to educating architects who will imagine and shape the future, SCI-Arc also offers community design and outreach programs, and free access to frequent exhibitions and lectures by leading thinkers in architecture.

Located in a quarter-mile-long former freight depot in the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles, the school is distinguished by its vibrant studio culture and emphasis on process. Approximately half of SCI-Arc’s students are enrolled in the undergraduate program and half in the graduate programs.

SCI-Arc offers a five-year Bachelor Degree in Architecture (B.Arch); a three-year professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch 1) program—open to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any field of study; and a two-year professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch 2) program—open to applicants with a minimum of a four year degree in Architecture, or its equivalent abroad. Additionally, the school offers two Master in Design Research (MDesR) post-professional programs with emphasis in emerging systems, technologies and media, as well as in urban studies. During summer, the school organizes a 4-week summer program for high school students—Design Immersion Days; and a 5-week foundation program in architecture, Making + Meaning, dedicated to those interested in architecture and design or about to enroll in a degree program.

Most recently, SCI-Arc was ranked second in design and computer applications in the 2013 America’s Best Architecture Schools survey from DesignIntelligence.